Longform

Hoosier Alum Overton in 15th after day one at British Open

Lovin' live

Absurd, even. But John Mayer’s Where the Light Is (like his previous double live album) is a brilliant exception. Featuring 22 tracks, you can be sure with Mayer you’ll never hear a song sound anything like it did on his studio album.

Still rockin'

Hole In The Sun has an almost perfect mix of fast and slow songs; songs that interchangeably go from infectious guitar riffs to ardent melodies.

Close to main-event status

With Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop, The Maine deliver what they should: simple, catchy pop songs about girls and young life. None of the members are that great of musicians, nor do the songs surprise whatsoever, but they have that something that propels bands into stardom. After a few listens, damn near very track sticks in your head much like sugary taffy sticks to your teeth.

Don't skip this one

Fights features just about anything that pop-punk fans could hope for: chugging guitars, soaring hooks and relatable lyrics about relationships and teenage dramatics. It’s absolutely nothing that hasn’t been done before, but the tracks stand out in comparison to their over-produced peers.

Charming American girl

The incredible acting of the cast helps “Kit Kittredge” excel. Each character brings something unique to the table; some have funny quirks while others must act as the voice of reason.It is especially in the interactions among the characters that the film finds its spark and in retrospect, its charm.

Defining cinema

Not quite ruined

A fairly average movie in a genre filled with below-average offerings, “The Ruins” is a good watch for a Sunday evening with your buddies. You can both laugh at the movie’s more ridiculous moments, and cringe at the frightening parts.

Certainly worth a listen

Bodies of Water are an up-and-coming band to watch out for, and A Certain Feeling is certainly worth a listen.

Possible to impress

Recorded here in Bloomington at the Art Hospital, The Impossible Shapes prove that local, original music is alive and well and will not stop fighting the festering disease that is known as the cover band.

'Journey' falls flat

Overall, one probably has a good sense of the movie just from watching the trailer alone and in fact, that is all I would suggest.   

A hell of a letdown

To its credit, many of the fights were clever and entertaining, and the special effects were nothing to sneer at. But it’s almost redundant to compliment special effects anymore unless they’re truly groundbreaking. Besides, like dates, movies can’t just look good; they’ve got to have brains, too.

Lilly Endowment gives $1.75 million grant to Riley Children’s Foundation

The Riley Children’s Foundation received a $1.75 million grant today from Lilly Endowment, Inc. for repairs and construction at Camp Riley for Youth with Physical Disabilities, according to an IU news release.

WEEKEND magazine blogs from Chicago's Union Park at this year's Pitchfork Music Festival.

Certainly worth a listen

Bodies of Water's sound is like a melting pot of musical genres – gospel, indie, folk, punk, rock, Latin rock, progg, etc. The vibrant-sounding musical instruments and the haunting sound of the singers’ combined vocals put a spin on gospel that is original and definitely gives the band a signature sound.

'Journey' falls flat

With “Journey to the Center of the Earth” and “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor” both coming out within a month of each other, it already feels like there is far more Brendan Fraser than should be tolerated this summer.

Massachusetts repeals out-of-state gay marriage law

Gay couples from across the country are one step closer to a Massachusetts wedding.

Remote outpost abandoned

U.S. and Afghan troops have abandoned a remote outpost in eastern Afghanistan where militants killed nine American soldiers this week, officials said Wednesday.

18 months after surge began, 150,000 troops remain in Iraq

WASHINGTON – The military surge into Iraq that began more than 18 months ago has ended. But 150,000 U.S. troops remain, as many as 15,000 more than before the buildup began.

Hezbollah gives coffins to Israel in prisoner swap

OSH HANIKRA, Israel – Hezbollah handed over two black coffins Wednesday with the bodies of two Israeli soldiers and Israel prepared to set free a notorious attacker in a dramatic prisoner swap that will close a painful chapter from the 2006 war in Lebanon.